Arts and Culture Commission Meeting Date: May 12, 2025
To: Commission Members
From: Natalie Draper, Library Director
Title
Staff Update.
Body
Action Requested:
The ACC receives an update on current projects.
Summary Report:
• The Living Treasure Award program was wonderful and well attended (about 170 people). Pauline Jennings and Living treasure, Bob Gregory-Bjorklund made it a beautiful event and everyone seemed to have a great time.
o The Carleton student posters are on display in City Hall on the second floor.
• The start of summer public art projects has been delayed a bit by extra work to prepare for council discussion and a very busy spring at the library.
• Conservation work on the anniversary fountain in Bridge Square should begin this month or next with hopes of having the fountain looking spiffed up by mid-summer.
• The National Endowment for the Arts have cancelled their remaining grants and the NEA has been cut from the president’s proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. There was a story in the Star Tribune on 5/6 that covers impacts to Minnesota arts groups. <https://www.startribune.com/nea-cuts-minnesota-arts-groups/601345327> (attached)
o We still have gotten no official word on our GAP grant application but it seems safe to say that round of applications will not be funded. There is enough in the fund available for the Bridge Square public art project by John Sterner and Marlena Myles without the grant.
Other projects/programs:
• Poet Laureate
o Recent newsletters attached to this agenda item.
• Sidewalk Poetry
o Poems have been placed along this year’s street project plans; sidewalks will be placed and stamped with poems this summer.
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
N/A
Tentative Timelines: